National Adult Literacy Database

September 26, 2005

The following story was written by Joetanie Kanayuk, from Ikaluit, Nunavut. Joetanie has two children - a son, Samulie (9 years old) and a daughter, Elaine (7 years old). He is enrolled in literacy classes at Arctic College, in Workplace Literacy.

My son's name is Samulie

by Joetanie Kanayuk

Before I went to literacy class, I didn't know how to write my kid's name. It was hard when people asked me, "How do you spell your son's name?" I would say, "I don't know how to spell it.

I have been going to literacy class for four years. I have learned a lot. I now know how to spell my kid's name.

[This story was taken with permission, from English Express, May-June 2005, a free newspaper for adult learners, published by Alberta Education, formerly Alberta Learning.]